The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-13


getting up his courage, Tor love had
worked wonderful II ansiormation IN
the hold conceited Jack, he managed
to Join Alice one morning as she was
setting out alone for n walk, her man
ner was rather disconraging and dis
tant, but he felt that it was, perhaps,
no more than he deserved. This inter.
view served, however, to break the ice,
and Tor the next fortnight Jacks de.
votion supplied subject Tor the Cos
sips of the hotel, who hoped the poor
girl would not be deceived by the at.
attentions OF that horrid flirt, Jack
Stoneman.
Our hero was, however, as much in
earnest as his granfather could desire,
and was determined to make the best
use OF his time while the coast was clear.
Alice much to his Joy grew less and
less cold to him, and he began to hope
that when she became convinced Of
the sincerity OF his feelings she would
give him more decided encouragement
One evening after tea he invited her
to take stroll. and they wandered
into a grassy lane, which soon merged
into woodland path. The air wa
soft and mild, and the breeze blowing
over the pine forests that clothed the
ide OF the mountain, rising gradually
before them, brought with it deli
ious odor OF pine and hemock. Light:
ctwinkled in the villas picturesquely
FETCHED upon seemingly inaccessible
heights, and giving a touch OF life tc
the otherwise deserted landscape
The young couple continued to stroo
along, occasionally ex changing a re
mark, but making no effort to keeI
up a very lively conversation. Al
last they arrived at a little pavilion
in which stood fountain whose wa
tiers were from a health giving spring
flowing amidthe woods. They entered
and sat down upon the bench that
encircled it. The deepest silence reign
ed over the scene. and Tor some mo
ments they found it contagious. At
last Jack. moved by an impulse he
could not resist, laid his hand upon
one OF Alice's, and said in tones brok.
en- by emotion: Alice, dearest, ! love
you deeply, more than ] can express. "
AS no answer came from her lips, he
continued: Alice, may | hope
"Hope what Jack?"
"That you will accept my love, and
consent to be my wife,
No, Jack, ! am afraid ] cannot"
"Oh, why?" exclaimed he in tones o.
the deepest disappointment; tell me
why. "
Because | do not believe in the
depth or sincerity of your love. 1t
is too sudden"
"But, Alice, you know that was
always fond of you, from the time we
were children together"
Eyes, Jack, but you must also re.
member, that for the last two or
three years you have avoided me and
treated me almost as stranger"
81 own that did not appreciate
you then as lido now; now adore you,
and entreat you to believe me. Put
me to any test you please. Bid me
wait and serve seven years for you as
Jacob did for Rachel, only do not
take hope from me utterly" urged
Jack. eagerly and passionately.
"Ah, | think your love and your
patience would give out long before
that time" replied she.
"Try me, my darling, and you shall
see. But, Alice, do you not care at all
for me?"
Eyes, Jack, | care great deal for
you. There is no one else so dear to
me" answered she, frankly.
"Then why will you not consent to
marry me?"
Because must first feel absolute.
ly sure that you will not change. How
can | tell? Your feeling for me is OF
such sudden growth that it is not like
ly TO be very long-lived. And il the
change were to come after we were
bound irrevocable to each other, it
would be terrible. But it is growing
very dark and we ought to be going
home" continued she, rising and
abruptly leaving the pavilion.
Poor Jack followed her, deeply cha
grined and disappointed. He had ex-
pected an easy victory, and all that he
had brought away was sense OF dis
couraeement, if not OF defeat His
vanity was sorely wounded, but his
love stood the blow well. 1t was too
deeply rooted to be easily blighted.
Besides she had acknowledged that
she loved him, and he swore to con.
vince her one day, and make her his /,
own. 4
About a week after this interview,
one OF those restless persons wh4 are
never happy unless they are seeing or
doing something, and who think that
nothing, however beautiful, is worth
looking at unless 1T is Viewed by
great many other pair OF eyes at the
same time, chartered a small steamer
and persuaded the guests of the hotel,
young and old, to join him in an ex-
cursion to Sones's sound. Alice had